Sperlonga is a small coastal town situated on a high rocky coast above sandy beaches. It has charming old buildings, lots of small restaurants and cafes and the fame brought by its most famous inhabitant, the Italian actor Raf Vallone.
In antiquity, Sperlonga was one of the favorite vacation spots of Roman emperors and patricians. During the excavations that were carried out in the mid-twentieth century, due to the road emerging in the area, the remains of the Emperor Tiberius' villa, which is today the most important monument in the city, were discovered.
This discovery brought Sperlonga back to general consciousness. Previously, for many centuries, it remained a small fishing village that hardly anyone remembered about. The biggest promoter of the town was the actor Raf Vallone, who spent many vacations here and invited stars such as Brigitte Bardot and Marlena Dietrich to his villa, as well as writers and artists Andy Warhol, Arthur Miller and Albert Camus. Thanks to them, Sperlonga has become famous and fashionable.
Situated on a high rocky shore, the old town is made up of white houses crammed into narrow streets. Many of them are decorated with murals and mosaics. The newer buildings with boarding houses and holiday villas descend gently into the sea along the edge of the cliff. Below are sandy, well-developed beaches. On the promontory by the port there is an old bastion, the Truglia Tower, which is a great vantage point. The local National Archaeological Museum with rich collections from the Roman period is also very famous.
Sperlonga's attractions also include the local rocks and underwater grottos. The surrounding waters are very popular with divers, and the coastal cliffs, rocks and caves are eagerly visited by climbers and speleologists.
